President Abdul Hamid shall complete his second consecutive term on April 24, 2023 at 10:59 AM, just two days after Eid Ul Fitr, which will take place in Bangladesh on April 22, 2023. Bangladesh has already elected its next president, who will resume on the same day current president leaves office.
As per the constitution of Bangladesh, Abdul Hamid could not be elected president for another term, as he already was elected president twice.
President Abdul Hamid took oath on April 24, 2018 as the head of the state for the second consecutive term, which will expire on April 24, 2023. The first five-year tenure of President Abdul Hamid expired on April 24, 2018 as he took office on the same date in 2013.
According to article 123 of the constitution, the presidential election was held to elect a new president for a five-year term.
Meanwhile, on April 16, 2023, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid a courtesy call on President M Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban in the evening.
“The Prime Minster discussed different state-level issues and apprised the president of the outcome of her recent Qatar visit”, President’s Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
The President thanked the prime minister and her government for their cooperation in his two terms in office.
The prime minister also congratulated President Hamid for serving two terms successfully.
Earlier, on her arrival at Bangabhaban in the afternoon, the President greeted the prime minister with a bouquet.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with members of the President’s family attended the iftar and doa munajat. At that time, the cabinet secretary, the principal secretary to the Prime Minister and the secretaries concerned to Bangabhaban and the Prime Minister were present. Before the iftar, a special prayer was offered for the welfare of the country, nation and Muslim Ummah.
President-elect vows to do what necessary for fair, participatory polls in Bangladesh
President-elect Md Sahabuddin on April 16, 2023 vowed to do whatever would be necessary to hold a fair, participatory and acceptable Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election.
“As the President, I will do whatever it needs to ensure a free, neutral, participatory and acceptable parliamentary election”, he told journalists at a ceremony where the Agami Publications handed over a copy his book ‘Egiye Jabey Bangladesh’ (Bangladesh will proceed).
President-elect Sahabuddin added: “National election is knocking at the door… Everyone is saying that the election will be very crucial, but I don’t think so, as the country has a Constitution and there is nothing to be worried at all”.
In line with the Constitution of the country, the independent Election Commission (EC) would be able to conduct a neutral, participatory and acceptable national election by exercising their optimum independence, he hoped.
The newly elected President categorically said, “As the Supreme Commander, I will do whatever necessary to maintain this neutrality and keep all the law and order normal”.
Referring to his nomination as the President, he expressed immense gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the efficient daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He also thanked the Awami League advisory council and the executive committee and all those concerned in this regard.
While commenting on his book, he said, the book ‘Egiye Jabey Bangladesh’, is the book where there are different incidents since his (Sahabuddin) childhood to the whole political life, Liberation War, prison life, work life, family life, ideology and everything.
In his 204-page book, some rare and historical photographs of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman have been added.
The President-elect said a broad-based identity of his personal life and contemporary political events, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Bangladesh Liberation War as well as the development activities of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been highlighted in the book.
He expressed his gratitude to the publishers and researchers for the publication of the book.
Besides, he said, the book includes the homecoming of Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the struggle to establish democracy, various steps taken as the head of government, building a digital Bangladesh, dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak and its subsequent crisis, construction of Padma Bridge and Metrorail and implementation of Rooppur nuclear power plant which have brightened country’s image across the world.
Elected as the 22nd President of Bangladesh on February 13, 2023, he is scheduled to take oath at Bangabhaban at 11 am on April 24.
